Zinedine Zidane names Fabien Barthez as France goalkeeper coach
Zidane, hired as France coach on a four-year deal, appointed Barthez as goalkeeper coach on Thursday. The pair won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship together. Barthez, 55, will help prepare the squad for Nations League fixtures beginning in September.
Zinedine Zidane appointed Fabien Barthez as France's goalkeeper coach on Thursday, according to ESPN. The move reunites the legendary pair for the first time in their official roles within the national team structure.
Zidane was hired as France coach on a four-year deal and is now building his backroom staff. Barthez, 55, will anchor the goalkeeper development for the squad as it prepares for international fixtures.
The two shared a World Cup triumph and a European Championship title, having played together when France won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, per ESPN's reporting. Barthez appeared 87 times for France during his career, which included stints at Toulouse, Marseille, Manchester United, and Monaco. His final appearance for France came in the 2006 World Cup final, where Zidane was sent off in extra time for headbutting defender Marco Materazzi.
On the same day, David Bettoni was named Zidane's assistant coach, per ESPN. Bettoni previously held the same role under Zidane at Real Madrid, where the manager guided the club to three straight Champions League titles from 2016-18.
France faces Turkey away in the Nations League on September 25, followed by a match in Belgium three days later, according to ESPN.
Zinedine Zidane appointed Fabien Barthez as France's goalkeeper coach on Thursday, reuniting the World Cup-winning pair.
Zidane's appointment of Barthez signals his strategy to leverage experienced figures from France's World Cup-winning era as he reconstructs the coaching staff. Watch how the goalkeeper coach's involvement shapes France's defensive preparation ahead of the September Nations League fixtures.
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